American Board of Optometry Announces New Diplomates

ST. LOUIS—The
American Board of Optometry (ABO) released the results of its January 2014 Board Certification Examination. A total of 1,112 doctors qualified to take the examination, and 1,035 doctors (93.2 percent) passed, successfully becoming Diplomates of the American Board of Optometry. These doctors, representing 49 states, two provinces in Canada, and Australia, will be added to the board-certified optometrist locator on the ABO
website.

“The American Board of Optometry congratulates this group of optometrists who have successfully passed our comprehensive examination, the gateway into the maintenance of certification process. These colleagues have demonstrated their competence beyond entry level and their commitment to quality patient care,” said James M. Vaught, OD, chairman of the board.

The new Diplomates begin their 10-year Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program on Jan. 1, 2014. The ABO now has 2,750 Diplomates and an Active Candidates list of more than 2,500 and growing.

The American Board of Optometry’s board certification program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and the MOC process is recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as substantially equivalent to that of the American Board of Medical Specialties.

Registration opens April 11 for the next board certification examination, scheduled for July 1 to 31, 2014, at Prometric Test Centers worldwide. Interested professionals should visit the website at
www.americanboardofoptometry.org.

The ABO was founded in 2009 by the American Academy of Optometry, American Optometric Association, American Optometric Student Association and the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry.